Abstrict

In general, bikini bottoms or briefs are somewhat unimaginative
in terms of shape, uncomfortable and expensive to produce. A relatively
simple frame for use in bikini bottoms or briefs includes two lengths
of wire which are bent to define mirror images of each other, the
lengths defining a major portion of an oval of sufficient length
to extend around the crotch of a wearer between a V-shaped line
across the rectus abdominous muscle in the front and the sacrum
in the rear of the wearer. Each of the lengths of wire includes
a straight, vertical rear portion extending downwardly from an inverted
L-shaped top rear end to approximately the bottom center of the
crotch area, and a front portion flaring outwardly and upwardly
from the vertical plane of the straight rear portion to a top end
and then downwardly to the vertical plane of the rear portion. The
two lengths of wire are interconnected using conventional cable
connectors to define a T-shaped rear and a generally triangular
front with a V-shaped depression in the top thereof. When the frame
is covered with a fabric or other flexible cover, the resulting
bikini bottom or briefs includes a triangular front panel with a
V-shaped depression in the top edge thereof, a narrow, generally
rectangular strip in the crotch area and a triangular rear panel
with a straight top edge.

Claims

We claim:

1. A frame for a bikini bottom or briefs comprising a pair of resilient
wire members, one said wire member being a mirror image of the other
said wire member, each said wire member defining a major portion
of an oval of sufficient length to extend around the crotch of a
wearer between an approximately V-shaped line on the rectus abdominous
muscle in the front and the sacrum in the rear of the wearer, each
said member including a rectilinear rear portion for extending downwardly
from a top rear of the frame to approximately a bottom center of
a crotch area of the frame, an outwardly extending rear arm at a
top end of the rear portion, and a front portion including a side
flaring outwardly from a vertical plane through said rectilinear
rear portion and said bottom center of the crotch area of the frame
to a top end of said front portion and a front arm extending downwardly
and inwardly from said top end of said front portion to said vertical
plane; and connector means for interconnecting said frame members
to define a T-shaped rear and a generally triangular front, said
front having a generally V-shaped depression in the top end thereof.

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein said front portion extends
upwardly a greater distance than said rear portion of said frame
member in a used position.

3. A frame according to claim 2 wherein said front portion of
each said member includes vertical stem means on an an inner end
of said front arm for receiving a first said connector means.

4. A frame according to claim 3 wherein said front arm is inclined
outwardly from a plane of said front portion.

5. A frame according to claim 4 including second connector means
for interconnecting said frame means at the top rear immediately
beneath the rear arms, and third connector means for interconnecting
said frame means at the bottom center in the crotch area.

6. A frame according to the frame of claim 2 in combination with
a flexible cover, said cover comprising a triangular rear panel
with a straight top edge; a narrow rectangular strip in a crotch
area of said cover; and a triangular front panel of greater length
than the rear panel, said front panel having a V-shaped top edge.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bikini bottom or briefs.

More specifically, the invention relates to a frame for a bikini
bottom or briefs, and the bikini bottom or briefs produced by covering
the frame.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

In general, bikini bottoms or briefs are formed of a fabric, which
is cut and sewn to produce an article of clothing having the desired
shape and size. The articles are substantially tubular, including
a top opening for the hips or waist of the wearer and a pair of
bottom openings for the legs. In the past, such bottoms or briefs
have been produced using a resilient frame covered with fabric,
the use of a frame beneath the fabric enabling the manufacturer
to omit the portions of the article extending around the waist of
the wearer. Articles of this type are disclosed for example in U.S.
Pat. No. 2534934 which issued to F. Viniegra on Dec. 19 1950;
U.S. Pat. No. 3339208 which issued to R. L. Marbach on Sep. 5
1967 and U.S. Pat. No. 4934781 which issued to O. Axmann on Jul.
26 1983 and French Patent No. 2481893 which issued to V. O.
Denis on Nov. 13 1981.

In articles of the type in questions, aside from the question of
cost, there are two considerations which need be addressed, namely
the appearance of the finished product and comfort. In general,
devices of the type described in the above listed patents are expensive
to produce, uncomfortable or somewhat uninteresting in terms of
shape or pattern. Other problems are the fact that the patented
articles are not properly supported on the body of the wearer and/or
are unlikely to retain their shape during use.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to offer a solution to the
above-identified problems in the form of a relatively simple yet
aesthetically pleasing bikini bottom or briefs, and a frame for
producing such an article of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame for a bikini
bottom or briefs which is easy to produce and which results in a
is relatively comfortable product which retains its shape on the
wearer.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a frame for a bikini
bottom or briefs comprising a resilient wire member defining a major
portion of an oval of sufficient length to extend around the crotch
area of a wearer between the rectus abdominous muscle in the front
and the sacral area in the rear, said wire member including a generally
T-shaped top rear end, a rectilinear rear portion extending downwardly
form said top rear end to approximately the bottom center of the
crotch area, and a generally triangular front portion, said front
portion having a generally V-shaped depression in the top thereof.

In more specific terms, the invention relates to a frame for a
bikini bottom or briefs comprising a pair of resilient wire members,
one said wire member being the mirror image of the other said wire
member, each said wire member defining a major portion of an oval
of sufficient length to extend around the crotch of a wearer between
approximately a V-shaped line on the rectus abdominous muscle in
the front and the sacrum in the rear of the wearer, each said member
including a rectilinear rear portion for extending downwardly from
the top rear of the frame to approximately the bottom center of
the crotch area, an outwardly extending rear arm at the top of the
rear portion, and a front portion including a side flaring outwardly
from the vertical plane of said rectilinear rear portion to a top
end and a front arm extending downwardly and inwardly from said
top end to said vertical plane; and connector means for interconnecting
said frame members to define a T-shaped rear and a generally triangular
front, said front having a generally V-shaped depression in the
top thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment
of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a frame
for use in a bikini bottom or briefs in accordance with the present
invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the frame of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a bikini
bottom or briefs produced using the frame of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the bottom or briefs of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bottom or briefs of FIGS. 4 and
5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the bottom or briefs of FIGS. 4 to 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the bottom or briefs of FIGS. 4 to 7;
and

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the bottom or briefs of FIGS. 4 to 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 a frame used as a base for the
bikini bottoms or briefs of the present invention which is generally
indicated at 1 includes a pair of wire members 2 and 3 which are
mirror images of each other. Each of the members 2 and 3 includes
a single length of wire, which is bent to define a major portion
of an oval (FIG. 2) such that if the free ends of the wire were
extended to meet, the resulting figure would be more or less drop-shaped.
The wire members 2 and 3 are resilient and are intended to extend
around the crotch of a wearer 4 (FIG. 8) from above the rectus abdominous
muscle in the front to the sacral area in the rear. More specifically,
the wire members 2 and 3 extend between a line (FIG. 8) extending
approximately between the top of the ilia in the front and the sacrum
in the rear of a wearer.

When viewed from the front or the rear, each of the wire members
2 and 3 includes a rectilinear rear portion 6 extending downwardly
from an outwardly extending arm 7 to extending downwardly from an
outwardly extending arm 7 to approximately the bottom center of
the crotch area. Plastic caps 8 are provided on the outer ends 9
of the arms 6. The rear portions 6 are interconnected immediately
beneath the arms 7 and at the bottom in the crotch area by conventional
cable connectors 10 and 11 respectively.

As best shown in FIG. 3 front portions 12 (in front of the connector
11) extend upwardly and outwardly (when viewed from the front or
rear), i.e. diverge from the vertical planes occupied by the rear
portions 6 to sharply rounded top corners 13. The corners 13 are
located in a horizontal plane 14 above the longitudinal axes of
the rear arms 7. The upper ends of the front portions 12 include
arms 16 extending downwardly and inwardly from the corners 13 to
vertical planes occupied by the rear portions 6 of the wire members.
As best shown in FIG. 2 the arms 16 are inclined outwardly from
the plane of the main body of the front portions 12 to allow for
the curvature of the abdomen of the wearer. Short vertical stems
or ends 17 are provided on the arms 16. The ends 17 are interconnected
by a connector 18 which is similar to the connectors 10 and 11.
A plastic cap 19 is provided on the bottom of the ends 17.

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 9 when the wire frame 1 is covered
with a fabric 20 or another flexible material, a finished bikini
bottom or briefs generally indicated at 21 is the result. The briefs
21 include a generally triangular front panel 24 with a top edge
25 defining a V-shaped depression. The front panel 24 tapers downwardly
to a narrow crotch of the wearer to a rear panel 28. The rear panel
28 is generally triangular with a straight top edge 29.

The top edge of the front panel 24 i.e. the V-shaped depression
25 is located on the rectus abdominous muscle of the wearer. The
top edge 29 of the rear panel 28 is located in the sacral area of
the wearer, and specifically in the area of the lowest vertebra
or sacrum of the wearer. With this structure, i.e. with the long
top front and top rear edges, the pressure on the body of the wearer
is spread out over a relatively large area of the body. The use
of a wire frame extending around the entire periphery of the finished
product maintains the structural integrity of the bikini bottom
or briefs. However, in spite of the utilitarian aspects of the frame,
namely integrity of the structure in use and load distribution,
the finished product is aesthetically pleasing.

It will be appreciated that the two lengths of wire used from the
frame can be replaced by a single length of wire shaped and bent
to form the triangular front and rear panels. Connectors would still
be used to hold the straight sides of the rear portion of the frame
together, and the free ends of the wires would form the outer ends
of the T-shaped top rear of the frame. The use of two separate lengths
of wire is preferred for strength and ease of manufacture, assembly
being a relatively simple operation.